CALIMAG INDUCTED ANEW - Philippine Medical Association

JUNE 2015
AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
CALIMAG INDUCTED ANEW
VOLUME XXV NO. 1
In this issue:
From the President's
Desk
p2-3
Maria Minerva P. Calimag, M.D. was
inducted as 2015-2016 Philippine Medical
Association President by Hon. Commissioner
Florentino C. Doble, MD, PRC Chairman, during
the closing ceremonies of the 108th PMA
Annual Convention at the Marriott Grand
Ballroom in Pasay City. Dr. Calimag was
reelected PMA President during the March 15,
2015 National Elections.
In her speech, Dr. Calimag said that
the doctors have been under constant external
threats but a united front and a solid
foundation would be their shield against all of
these threats. She also stated that the
physicians are revered and looked up to by
society because eminence, empathy, erudition
and expertise have been the values attributed
to them. The same values could undermine the
very core of the Philippine Medical
Asso ciatio n‟ s existen ce lead in g to
territorialism, turfism, tribalism and
turncoatism. She thus called for all Filipino
physicians, especially those in leadership
positions, to make sure that they love their
profession because it has imbued them with
God-given talents to heal physically and
emotionally; that they all love their fellow
physicians because that was what they have
sworn to do when they took the Oath of
Hippocrates; that they should love the
Philippine Medical Association because it was
built upon the age-old ideals of its founders as
an association of all physicians that would look
after each other‟s welfare. She urged the
members to thwart any attempt by any sector
to disembowel the profession, to divide the
physicians, and disintegrate the PMA in
exchange for personal gains or political
ambitions.
Dr. Calimag asked all physician-leaders
present during the closing ceremonies to
stand up, recite and live up to heart the
Declaration of Commitment to the Ethos of the
Philippine Medical Association which was
launched the during the Opening Ceremonies
of the 108th PMA Annual Convention.
The induction was witnessed by her
family.
•••
Editorial
p4
As I See It
p5
Dates to Remember
p6
The Vice President's
Corner
p7
Money Matters: The
National Treasurer's
Report
p8-9
Know your Governor
p12-19
Feature
p20-21
The MCP-KLP
p22
MERS-CoV
p23
CME Commission
p24
Specialty & Affiliate
Societies
p26-27
Page 2
The Physician
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
MARIA MINERVA PATAWARAN-CALIMAG, MD, MSc, PhD, FPBA
A Time to Lead at the PMA: Journeying with
Commitment, Confidence, Conviction and Character
We live in interesting times!
“Ang lahat ay may gintong nasa
at ang kapisanan ay tunay ang damdamin”. Mga katagang halaw sa ating
Awit ng PMA na dapat nating isapuso. Because at the end of the day,
leadership and our involvement in our
respective medical societies is not
about the positions we hold but
about the relationships we build.
Thirty years ago, as a young
medical graduate, I see how policies
and laws were proposed, some
passed, that would make life significantly harder for us and for our patients. I realized that I needed to do
something about such legislation to
protect our patients, and that the
most effective way was to become
involved in my medical society, the
Manila Medical Society and use the
clout of organized medicine to protect my patients.
Now standing here before you as
the 93rd PMA President and the 7th
female to lead this prestigious association of physicians I recognized the
power of organized medicine. I see
how an issue I faced in my practice
could be taken to a higher level. And
if resolved at that higher level, the
benefits would reach not only my
own patients, but also every patient in
the country.
As I travelled and visited 17 Regions and 102 out of 119 Component
Societies and countless Specialty,
Subspecialty and Affiliate Societies in
the past 466 days, I listen to our colleagues‟ stories and come to understand and appreciate the diversity of
ideas and approaches to health care
challenges found in different regions
- and realize that each has its merits.
As I continue the heady experience of traveling around the country
this year representing the Philippine
Medical Association, I am reminded
again and again of the responsibility
we have as physicians to provide the
best care possible to our patients. In
addition I believe we have a dual responsibility to provide the leadership
to ensure that the environment in
which care is given, the structure of
the health care system, is one that
promotes good quality care. Now I
also recognize the challenges and
fears we physicians have of losing our
autonomy – we fear that “…crucial
health care decisions will be dictated
by government, or administrators, or
health insurance companies.”
Moreover, they have taken notice
in the Halls of Senate and Congress
as I represent the PMA in the Committee of Health on issues of drug
safety profile and fake drugs, in the
Committee on Budget and Finance on
issues of taxation, in the Committee
on Economic Reforms on issues related to the Asian Harmonization; in
the Halls of the Department of Health
Committee as Resource Person in the
Formulary Executive Committee and
the FDA Pharmacovigilance Committee; in the Board Rooms of the Dangerous Drugs Board on issues of drug
regulations and the revision of Board
Regulation No. 3, which is the IRR of
the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; the
Board Rooms of PHILHEALTH on issues of fees reimbursement; in the
PRC and CHED on issues related to
Outcomes-based Education, the revised framework for the Continuing
Professional Education and the
ASEAN Qualifications Reference
Framework and in the Conventions
and Congresses of the Philippine
Council for Health Research and Development and the different local,
national and international Specialty
Societies; in the Medical Staff Meetings and corridors of hospitals nationwide; and in the corridors and auditoria of Universities and Medical Colleges, and speaking my mind in the
numerous press conferences, while
calling for transparency and accountability in all our transactions.
The ground is shifting beneath
our feet and change is upon us. But
even so, our foundation at the PMA is
solid, built upon the age-old ideals of
our predecessors. Because this solid
foundation, our platform at the PMA
has survived some 111 years. This
platform yielded the first code of
medical ethics and the first standards
for Philippine medical education. So
yes, right now we are living through
historic change. And some may lament that fact. But I say, we are lucky.
Because the great thing about living
through history, is we don‟t have to
just witness it. We can shape it.
Together we can combat the epidemic of chronic conditions plaguing
the nation. Together we can foster
innovation in medical education, so
future physicians are better prepared
for the realities of 21st century health
care.
Together we can improve health
care technology. Together we can
achieve meaningful legislative and
Volume XXV, No. 1
medical liability reforms. By standing
together, united in vision and commitment, Filipino physicians can
shape the health care system this
country needs. To put it simply, I realized that the collective voice – the
voice of the Filipino physicians – had
the power to make a difference.” ASAM-ASAM, ISIP-ISIP, USAPUSAP, SAMA-SAMA. I therefore call
for unity and solidarity to reform the
PMA and make it relevant to each
and
every Filipino Physician.
“Magkapit-bisig para sa Pagbabago…
para sa PMA at sa Bayan”. In return,
the PMA tagline as an organization
shall be: “PMA: Empowering the
Filipino Physician for Nation
Building.”
We are ONE PMA! We are an
80,000-strong member organization
of Filipino physicians! We are the biggest lobby group that can speak for
and on behalf of all physicians. All
Component, Specialty, Subspecialty
and Affiliate Societies are under constant external threats but a united
front and a solid foundation is our
shield against all of these threats. All
eyes are on us and I call upon all physicians for us to examine our conscience and ask ourselves about what
we have done to uplift the lot of our
fellow physicians…let us maintain the
respect of all our peers…let us reflect
on what we are doing, …to ourselves,
to our fellow physicians and to the
Philippine Medical Association. . The
medical profession is a magnet for
controversy…why? Because the physicians that comprise it are revered and
looked up to by society…eminence,
empathy, erudition and expertise are
values that are attributed to all physicians. The same values however can
undermine the very core of our existence as an organization at the Philippine Medical Association… leading to
territorialism, turfism, tribalism and
turncoatism. Let this be a wake-up
call for all of us Filipino physicians…
especially those among us in leadership positions.
Our common goal should be to
Page 3
make sure: that we love our profession because it has imbued us with
God-given talents to heal physically
and emotionally; that we all love our
fellow physicians because that is
what we have sworn to do when we
took the Oath of Hippocrates; that we
should love the Philippine Medical
Association because it is the oldest,
at 111 years old, medical organization
of Filipino physicians built upon the
age-old ideals of our predecessors.
The Philippine Medical Association as
envisioned by our forefathers is an
association of all physicians that
would look after each other‟s welfare.
Our duties and responsibilities at the
PMA should be to make sure that all
physicians, regardless of specialization and affiliation are cared for, nurtured and empowered. We should
thwart any attempt by any sector to
disembowel the profession, to divide
the physicians, and disintegrate the
PMA in exchange for personal gains
or political ambitions. Let us make
sure that our votes during PMA elections is a mature, informed and discerned vote that reflects the directions and needs of our times.
Hillary Rodham-Clinton in Hard
Choices wrote “All of us face hard
choices in our lives. Life is about making such choices. Our choices and
how we handle them shape the people we become.”
We launched the Declaration of
Commitment to the Ethos of the
Philippine Medical Association during the Opening Ceremonies of the
108th PMA Annual Convention! During my Valedictory-Inaugural Speech,
I even asked all physician-leaders present to stand up, recite and live up
the Commitment to heart. We have to
start while they are young...teaching
medical students about all possible
moral hazards and temptations that
they will encounter in clinical practice.
We will revise our PMA Code of Ethics to include all nuances in medical
practice that involve physician-patient
interaction; physician-industry interaction; social media in healthcare;
networking schemes; etc.
Dear colleagues, change can be
scary. But we must never forget:
change can also be good. Today we
stand at a crossroads in the history of
health care in this great nation. Behind us lies a century of failed attempts to improve the system. Ahead
of us lie two distinct paths.
One is the path of inaction. Of
glorifying the past, succumbing to
partisan politics that muddle all our
issues, and thwarting any attempt to
move forward. The other is the path
of action. Of collaborating, innovating, and leading the drive toward productive change. Today, we look back,
thank and celebrate three groups of
people who played an important role
in the development of our organization First – to the group of early PMA
pioneers who believed and acted
upon an idea that such an association
would be useful to promote and serve
the medical profession in our country;
Second – to the group of leaders and
members who expanded the original
vision of the organization by offering
exciting new activities and events that
continue to serve our constituency
today; Third – to the group of future
leaders and members who will continue to nurture and develop our association into a vibrant future. If the
relevance and vitality of professional
organizations is based on the services
and support it provides to its members, as well as its ability to change
and transform itself to reflect the
changes in „our‟ world, then we at the
PMA, can truly call ourselves leaders
and I am honored (and proud) to be
among fellow leaders of PMA! We
think creatively, work collectively, and
lead passionately! We all look forward
to many more years of learning, sharing, mentorship and forming lasting
friendships. Mahatma Gandi said...If
we want to find ourselves...we have to
lose ourselves in the service of others....We celebrate Our Legacy: A Distinguished Past… A Vibrant Future!
•••
Page 4
The Physician
On the Wings of Unity I
Every Fall, without fail each year,
hundreds of thousands of birds of every
species and size fly South for the Winter. Among them, tens of thousands of
geese travel thousands of miles from
the farthest tips of North America to
Mexico and even farther South.
thousand strong organization active, it
already is a force to reckon with. It will
also be a sight to see as all doctors
come together and unite under the
wings of the PMA. For this reason, the
PMA's flight path has been drawn via
various programs.
especially amongst people. According
to the various articles, as each bird flaps
its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird
immediately behind it. By flying in a “V”
formation, the flock together gains over
70% more flying range than if each bird
flew on its own.
They fly South with a common
purpose and destination-to ensure survival during the cold winter nights when
food is scarce. They fly, strictly following
a flight path, deviating when needed
but always forward. They fly in unison,
flapping their wings together, following
a V-Formation. They fly with great determination and speed, year in, year out.
Ÿ The Balik PMA program was
conceptualized during the last Board of
governors of 2014-15. Moreover, the
ONE PMA Movement was launched
during the 108th PMA Annual Convention last May 2015 by Dr. Minerva
Calimag.
As our PMA president exhorts us all
to love our profession, our peers, and
the PMA, these programs aim to bring
us all together, in V-Formation towards
a common purpose.
This year, the Philippine Medical
Association (PMA) is flapping its wings
as it soars high and mighty with a purpose of unity and further growth.
In the past year, PMA has healed
itself from controversies surrounding
the organization and our PMA President
Dr. Minerva Calimag has reached out to
different sectors of all physicians nationwide. This healing process continues
throughout our flight path to unity and
growth on the last year of her term.
As the geese fly South, their sheer
numbers crowd the sky, and display
their true strength, which is a sight to
see. With only half of the PMA's 80
Ÿ Amidst all controversies of Philhealth fraud, tax evasion, and misrepresentations, the PMA will review and
strengthen our present Code of Ethics,
to amend our Constitution and By-laws,
to uplift the lot of our fellow physicians,
and to maintain respect for all physicians.
 The Owl@PMA was launched last
May 2015, which is an online program
for CPD/CME for all our members. This
will be endorsed by the PRC. This will
enable all our members to gain the required CME units.
The sheer number and the perfect
V-formation of the geese as they fly
illustrates the importance of unity
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor-in-Chief
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles, M.D.
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
PMA Journal
Arnel A. Asiño, M.D.
Maria Christina H. Ventura, M.D.
Albert C. Guevarra, M.D.
Contributing Editors
The Physician
Sol Veronica E. Bagaipo, M.D.
Erlinda G. De Los Reyes, M.D.
Eliza D. Laurente, M.D.
Arnel A. Asiño, M.D.
Arthur T. Catli, M.D.
Albert C. Guevarra, M.D.
Ma. Corazon S. Maglaya, M.D.
Mechael Angelo G. Marasigan, M.D.
Bayani P. Tecson, M.D.
PMA Governors
Component Society Presidents
Specialty Division Presidents
Specialty Society Presidents
Affiliate Society Presidents
With the success of these programs, imagine what can happen- as we
increase our numbers, together, we can
fly higher, faster, and further.
Just like the geese, if we all work
together- if we all unite, we can achieve
the goals and changes that we have set
out for. We can do more than we
would, had we worked alone.
Henry Ford once said, "Coming
together is a beginning, keeping together is progress".
Without doubt, when we work
closely together, anything is possible.
Together, we can move mountains. Together, we move forward and go the
distance. Together, we will do this with
great determination and speed.
•••
The Physician
The Physician is an internal publication of the Philippine
Medical Association instituted by the PMA Board of
Governors for the dissemination of information to PMA
Members. Its office is at the PMA Secretariat, North
Avenue, Quezon City 1105; contact numbers: 9296366;
9262447, 09189234732, 09178221357; fax number:
9296951;
Email:
[email protected],
[email protected]
website: www.philippinemedicalassociation.org
Volume XXV, No. 1
During the 108th PMA Annual Convention last May 2015, the PMA President Dr. Maria Minerva P. Calimag
launched the "ONE PMA MOVEMENT"
wherein she emphasizes the fact that in
"Unity there is Strength". We are the
biggest medical organization nationwide
and if we project a united front as well as
a solid one, we can surmount any
external threat that aims to undermine
the PMA.
•••
The first PMA Board of Governors
meeting was held on June 12, 2015 at
the Hotel Sarrosa International in Cebu.
This was followed by the National
Orientation and Leadership Seminar for
all 119 Component Societies, Specialty
Divisions, Specialty Societies, and Affiliate Societies. The aim of making the
leadership seminar simultaneous is to
disseminate information uniformly and
various concerns may be addressed in a
nationwide manner. The event was well
attended.
•••
The PMA was a finalist for the Most
Outstanding Accredited Professional
Organization of the PRC in their Awards
Night at the Manila Hotel last June 18,
2015. Dr. Rosario Capedeng was
awarded the 4th Nubla Award for Excellence. The first Nubla Awardee is our
incumbent PMA President, Dr. Minerva
P. Calimag. She bested all the other professionals in 2012.
•••
The updating of the PMA database
is a continuing process. The membership
listing adopted in 2014 will be the basis
for the update. A CD with the present list
of each component society together
with the list of members with arrears
have been given out to all component
medical societies during the leadership
seminar in Cebu. For those who were not
Page 5
able to attend, these CD's were mailed
by courier. The list in the CD should be
reconciled with the component society's
listing and any discrepancy should be
transmitted to the PMA membership
staff on or before August 31, 2015. Any
deaths of your members should also be
reported with a photocopy of the death
certificate or a notarized written notice
by the next of kin before they can be
delisted from the PMA roster.
•••
We are again reminding everyone
that annual dues for the current year
SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY
THE PMA ON/OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER
30, 2015, in order for the member to be
included in the voters' list, as stated in
our election code. All component societies who have received payments should
have deposited the paid dues through
our depository banks by September 30,
2015, or paid directly to the PMA.
•••
PMA Power Card Holders will be
able to avail of discounted Unilab products through Med Express. Discounts
with other business establishments are
still readily available. This list will be on
all smart phones, androids, tablets and
iPads through the use of a mobkard
application which can be downloaded.
•••
All PMA employees had their first
team building at the PMA Auditorium
last June 27, 2015 conducted by PMA
Executive Director, Ms Bebbet Recinto.
Ms. Recinto is a Bachelor of Psychology
graduate as well as a Human resource
expert. This is in line with the current
thrust of the Execom to professionalize
the PMA workforce. Every first Tuesday
of the month they will have their regular
assessment meetings. And the criteria
has been set for the employee of the
month. And eventually, an employee of
the year. On this scope, the PMA is moving forward with a CPA accountant and a
CPA internal auditor in place. The landscape of the PMA secretariat has been
changing with the view in mind of enhancing their performance, improving
their self esteem, improving their work
relationship with each other and making
them realize that working for the betterment of the PMA would make this organization succeed in all aspects and this
would eventually lead to the upliftment
of their status in life.
•••
We encourage all inactive members
to avail of the Balik PMA program which
has been extended by the present board
to December 31, 2015. A 50% discount
will be granted to all members who have
arrears from 2013 and earlier. However,
the annual dues for 2014-15 and 201516 should be paid in full. A 10% per cent
rebate shall be given to all component
societies whose members have availed
of the program.
•••
The PMA Committee on Membership is enjoining all component medical
societies to have their own website.
Plans are underway to link all these websites to the PMA website. The PMA programmer has also been instructed to
make our website mobile friendly. This
will enable all members to access our
website through their smartphones or
androids.
•••
The Committee on the Constitution
and Bylaws met last July 10, 2015 at the
PMA Board room. The chair is Dr. Bayani
Tecson and the meeting finalized the
needed amendments after discussions
by all concerned. The PMA will be transmitting the final form for comments
from all sectors, after which we shall
move to obtain the required 2/3 votes of
the general membership.
•••
The PMA Commission on Ethics was
convened by the Chair, Dr. Santiago del
Rosario. Dr. Minerva P. Calimag, PMA
President emphasized the need to review the present Code of Ethics of the
PMA to make it attuned to the present
time.
•••
Page 6
The Physician
As I See It… from page 5
Preparations are underway for the
celebration of the 112th PMA Foundation Day on September 15, 2015 under
the Chairmanship of Dr. Arnel Asino. Dr.
Carlito Pajarillo is the Chair of the Medicine week which will fall on September
20 - 26, 2015.
•••
We call on all doctors to heed the
call of the PMA to UNITE. Only the PMA
can encompass all physicians nationwide. It is 112 years old, come September 15, 2015. As Dr. Minerva Calimag
has said, " Only the PMA can harness
the Power of Organized Medicine".
•••
A meeting was held at the PHIC
presided by the DOH Secretary, the
Honorable Dr. Janet Garin and
Assistant Secretary Dr. Dominga
Padilla last August 27, 2015. Presidents and representatives from all
the Specialty Divisions and Specialty
societies, Dr. Minerva Calimag from
the PMA and Dr. Ruben Flores from
the Philippine Hospital Association
were in attendance. A board resolution was passed by the PHIC
board to require again the Certificate of Good Standing from the
Philippine Medical Association, the
specialty divisions or societies and
from the Philippine Hospital association from their members. The
purpose of the meeting was to discuss the implementing rules and
regulation for a Memorandum of
Agreement between the PMA, PHA
and Specialties. A Certificate of
Good Standing from the PMA requires the payment of Annual dues
for the PMA and the local component society, as well as completion
of the required CME units. This certificate shall be issued by the local
component society of the PMA
where the physician is a member.
•••
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
112th PMA Foundation Day celebration
September 15, 2015
58th Medicine Week Celebration
September 20-26, 2015
109th PMA Annual Convention
May 18-20, 2016
PMA National Election and Local Component Elections
March 13, 2016
Our Code of Ethics states:
“Colleagues, legitimate children who are minors, or even those who
are not minors but mentally incapacitated and dependent upon our
colleague for support, should be given the courtesy.
However, this shall not apply to plastic or cosmetic procedures
unless the cosmetic service is for Reconstructive”
procedure for conditions resulting from diseases or accidents.
In case of package deals, professional fees included in said package
shall be waived.”
APMA’s SEARCH FOR 2015
TOPICS AWARDS
Believing that “success comes to
those who prepare well and put in
effort”, the Auxiliary to the Philippine
Medical Association, Inc. (APMA) would
like to invite nomination of members of
good standing of the Philippine Medical
Association (PMA) to participate in the
search for THE 32nd OUTSTANDING
PHYSICIANS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
more commonly known as TOPICS
Awards. Guided by the pursuit of
excellence in community service, TOPICS
awards are intended to give recognition
to outstanding physicians who perform
medical services, over and above their
professional duties, to showcase the
commendable
Filipino
traits
of
compassion, concern and sense of
responsibility and to draw up exemplars
of models in community service. The
honor will be awarded during the annual
celebration of the National Physicians
Day on September 27, 2015 which is the
feast say of Sts. Cosme and Damian, the
patron saints of physicians. Each
awardee shall receive a TOPICS Award
trophy made by national artist Napoleon
Abueva accompanied by a citation. The
board of judges is composed of at least
three distinguished Filipinos representting the field of medicine, public health,
social work education and related fields.
The deadline of submission of
nomination is on August 24, 2015, at
APMA Boardroom.
Please mail, email or submit your
nomination forms to any of the
following:
APMA TOPICS AWARDS Committee
Chairperson
MA. LUCIA T. ALVARADO, MD, MBA, FPCR
[email protected] /
(0917) 8000037
APMA National President
THERESA SALAZAR-BONGOLAN, DMD
[email protected] /
(0917) 8560043
PMA Secretariat c/o Cathy or Neneth
[email protected] /
[email protected]
(0917) 8221357
•••
Volume XXV, No. 1
PMA Membership: What to do?
Encouraging members to be
active or encouraging fellow nonmember physicians to join and be active with the PMA has always been a
challenge to majority of the component
societies. Every now and then, we hear
the same complaints from officers of
the different societies. Take for instance
during the 2015 PMA National Orientation and Leadership Seminar held in
Cebu City, almost all the groups mentioned many members have fallen out
from the list of their active members.
One of the main reason cited
was that PHIC and PRC no longer ask
for the Certificate of Members in Good
Standing with the PMA. Is the certificate the reason why physicians join the
PMA? If that is the case, then no wonder PMA membership is going down. In
2003, only 49.86% are active members
(25,631 of 51,406 PMA members).
And in 2014, active members were only
32,334 of the 72,283 total PMA members or 44.73%
There was a time when doctors loved to associate themselves with
PMA and they looked forward to the
PMA Annual Conventions bringing their
family with them. My parents were doctors that time and it was like a big family vacation, the highlight of our summer vacation.
It is important to note though
that membership has never been a
problem to my home society, the
Misamis Occidental (Oroquieta City)
Medical Society (MOMS). Misamis
Occidental Medical Society was formed
in 1946. However, some years later,
Page 7
the doctors residing in the northern half
of the province decided to separate
from the southern half. It was because
during that time, the roads were so bad
and it was so hard for the two groups
to travel to either side. Thus, in 1960,
the Misamis Occidental (Oroquieta City)
Medical Society was officially approved
by the PMA Board of Governors. In the
mid 70s, the group decided to build an
office where monthly meetings and
RTDs would be held. My parents donated a parcel of land for this purpose.
In the early 80s, the construction of the
building started with the little money
they had. Such was a big challenge
that they asked help several times from
the national PMA only to be ignored.
Thus, they concluded that the only people who could help them were themselves. This formed a very special bond
within them, putting all their energy
and resources for the building. Years
have gone by, construction was so slow
and there were even years when the
construction was literally stopped.
Then came a new generation of highly
energetic and idealistic doctors who
decided to continue and finish what the
founding members started. Because of
this goal, both the older and the
younger doctors became so united. On
March 2010, on the occasion of the
society’s 50th Golden Anniversary, and
roughly 30 years since the ground
breaking, the PMA MOMS Oroquieta
City Building was officially opened by
then incoming PMA President, Dr Oscar
Tinio, and the Northcentral Mindanao
Governor, Dr. Osop MP Abbas.
Is the project the reason why
the members are so united and active?
It may be a big factor in the formation
of this special bond. Feeling so helpless
made them strive to work hard together. The senior members make efforts to invite the younger members
and make them feel welcome and at
home with the group. Even when the
construction was already done, our
camaraderie continues. We treat each
construction was already done, our
camaraderie continues. We treat each
one as family. We are like a fraternity
group. In addition, another factor why
we are so close and solid is because we
involve our family, spouses and children
in almost all our activities. Our spouses,
although they are not yet registered as
APMA yet, are also very close. They
have their own group, and the children
also have theirs.
Who cares about the certificate? Whether the certificate is required
or not, our society remains as one and
solid. We love being with each other.
We do not bond during RTDs only. We
go beyond that. Such that we call for
"tea parties" as often we can so that we
can just be together. The induction of
the new officers 2015 was probably the
most unique among all the societies
throughout the country. With the induction as the highlight, we had the program “Sophistique” which showcased
the talent and uniqueness of each
member as well as being ONE with one
another. For indeed MOMS Oroquieta
City is ONE.
To recap, the MOMS Oroquieta
City has 87.5% active membership (of
those who are currently residing and
practicing in the area totaling 72, 63
are active, 9 inactive; excluded in the
numbers are those who have migrated,
transferred without proper documentation, and on residency training) because
of the following: (1) involvement in the
fulfillment of a project, (2) treatment of
each other as family, (3) involvement of
family members, and (4) having fun
wholesome family activities as a group.
It is my dream that all other
component societies will also find ways
to be more meaningful to the lives of its
members so other non-member doctors
will be encouraged to join as well.
Hopefully, all component societies will then be ONE in solidarity.
ONE PMA.
•••
Page 8
The Physician
BALIK PMA PROGRAM
In response to the clamor of the PMA component societies for a “Balik PMA pa more”,
the Board of Governors in the meeting held at the PMA Boardroom last July 12, 2015
has approved the EXTENSION of the Balik PMA Program until December 31, 2015.
The Balik PMA Program which was implemented last October 1, 2014 grants a 50% discount to all members who will
settle their arrears on membership dues with the PMA covering the period 2013 and earlier. Moreover, with the payment
of the arrears on membership dues on or before September 30, 2015, the right to vote and be voted upon will be
reinstated.
Since the program started way back in October 2014, the generated revenue reached a total of Php 3,101,250.00 from the
1,658 balik PMA members who availed of the program as of the end of July 2015. For the months of June and July 2015,
Western Visayas registered the highest revenue from a total of 14 Balik PMA members who availed of the program.
Bicol
Bicol
MUTUAL AID BENEFIT
DEATH
DISABILITY
MONTH
NO.
AMOUNT
NO.
AMOUNT
JUNE
9
450,000.00
13
293,750.00
JULY
12
562,500.00
8
200,000.00
TOTAL
21
1,012,500.00
21
493,750.00
One of the benefits available to a
GOOD standing PMA member is the
entitlement to the Mutual Aid
Benefits that includes Death (P
50,000), Disability (P 25,000.00) and
Legal aid (P 40,000.00). In the past 2
months, the PMA has paid a total of
P 1,506,250.00 to 42 active members.
Most of the claims approved by the
Committee on Mutual Aid have been
cases of cancer, chronic diseases and
pneumonia, conditions common in
the elderly.
For the FY 2014-2015, about 9.67
M was spent on Mutual Aid grants.
This is reflective of a 51% increase
compared to the previous year where
6.42 M was spent. With the trend of an
increasing amount spent on Mutual
Aid grants, the PMA would be well to
initiate programs meant to generate
additional sources of revenues to be
able to sustain such increased
spending.
•••
Volume XXV, No. 1
Page 9
INDIGENCY CENTER
OLD PRICE
Effective August 16, 2015, the Indigency
Center, as approved by the Board of Governors
has implemented new rates to its laboratory
fees to defray the increase in the cost of
reagents and materials being used as well as to
fund the rehabilitation of some of its
equipment and facilities. The following are the
adjusted laboratory fees.
A. CONSULTATION
INITIAL
FOLLOW-UP
50.00
30.00
70.00
50.00
CBC
70.00
110.00
RH TYPING
70.00
80.00
BLEEDING TIME
60.00
80.00
CLOTTING TIME
60.00
80.00
HEPA- B TEST
160.00
180.00
PREGNANCY TEST
100.00
120.00
FBS
90.00
100.00
B. LABORATORY
The initial consultation fee was likewise
increased from P 50.00 to P 70.00 and the
follow-up consultation fee from P 30.00 to P
50.00.
Currently, an average of 30 patients a day
are accommodated in the center for medical
consultations and about 10 patients a day
undergo physical therapy. A significant increase
in the number of patients is however
anticipated in the near future with the addition
of one more physician to handle patient
consultations and the eventual assignment of a
permanent physical therapist once the
construction works in the renovation of the
center is completed.
NEW PRICE
The Indigency Center is a program initiative of the PMA as it
endeavors to achieve its mission to extend medical services to the
less fortunate in an attempt to contribute to excellent healthcare
delivery to the community at large.
Cheers to the PMA‟s vision, “In a dedicated selfless and
humane service of the Medical Profession for a healthy Philippines
and for the Glory of God.”
•••
Dates of the PMA/UNILAB Regional Assemblies
Fiscal Year 2015-2016
DATE
REGION
DATE
REGION
October 4, 2015
Western Mindanao at
February 7, 2016
Southern Tagalog at
Tagaytay City
October 11, 2015
Eastern Visayas at
Ormoc City
February 21, 2016
Northeastern Luzon at Ifugao
February 28, 2016
Western Visayas at Aklan
November 8, 2015
Northwestern Luzon at
La Union
March 6, 2016
November 15, 2015
Central Visayas at Cebu City
Southeastern Mindanao at
General Santos City
April 3, 2016
CARAGA at Butuan City
January 17, 2016
Northcentral Mindanao at
Marawi City
April 10, 2016
NCR (Manila, Quezon City,
January 24, 2016
Rizal, Central Tagalog) at
UNILAB Bayanihan Center
January 31, 2016
Central Luzon at Bulacan
April 17, 2016
Northern Mindanao at
Bukidnon
Bicol at Legazpi City
Page 10
The Physician
Volume XXV, No. 1
Page 11
Maria Minerva P.
Calimag, M.D.
President
Karen Y. ConolSalomon M.D.
Vice President
Oscar T.
Cabahug, M.D.
National Treasurer
Marianne L.
Ordoñez- Dobles, M.D.
Secretary General
Albert C.
Guevarra, M.D.
Asst. Secretary General
Judith N. Allaga, M.D.
Governor, Northeastern
Luzon
Jeisela B. Gaerlan, M.D.
Governor, Northwestern
Luzon
Paul Ruel C.
Camiña, M.D.
Governor, Central Luzon
Lakandula A.
Elayda, M.D.
Governor, Manila
Rosario B.
Cruz-Dalida, M.D.
Governor, Quezon City
Ramon C. Echano Jr., M.D.
Governor, Bicol
Jose C. Rabe, M.D.
Governor, Rizal
Vincent C. Santos, M.D.
Governor, Central Tagalog
Annette M. Macayaon, M.D.
Governor, Southern
Tagalog
Felma R. Dela Cruz, M.D.
Governor, Western Visayas
Florencio T. Miel, M.D.
Governor, Central Visayas
Eliza D. Laurente, M.D.
Governor, Eastern Visayas
Edgar A, Legaspi, M.D.
Governor, Western
Mindanao
Ruben O. Go, M.D.
Governor, Northern
Mindanao
Maria Lourdes G.
Monteverde, M.D.
Governor, Southeastern
Mindanao
Osop MP. Abbas, M.D.
Governor, Northcentral
Mindanao
Bernardo T. Mora
Jr., M.D.
Governor, Caraga
Page 12
The Physician
Know your Governor…
By: Bayani B. Tecson, MD
tracing her roots from Benguet and
Ifugao provinces, she has not forgotten to give back to the community
that nurtured her youth. Fully aware
of the need for a better public health
service that her beloved fellow Ifugao
truly deserve, Dr. Allaga went back to
school to take up a Masteral Course
in Hospital Administration at UPCollege of Public Health. She is a
member of the Ifugao Medical Society and became the president for
more than 5 years in the 1980‟s when
IMS was still enduring its growing
pains. She was promoted as Assistant
Provincial Health Officer of Ifugao.
During the devolution of Health Services in 1996, she was retained as the
Provincial DOH Representative until
2003, and later promoted as the Assistant Regional Health Director of
the DOH-CAR, Baguio City. After 39
years in public health service, she retired as the OIC-Regional Health Director in 2012.
Dr. Allaga is the epitome of a
true public servant. Immediately after
graduation from the College of
Medicine at the UERMMMC in 1973,
she went back to her home province
in Ifugao and served as a Resident
Physician at the Ifugao General Hospital for 10 years. Her love for public
health service earned her to be promoted as the Chief of Hospital of
Tinoc District Hospital, which is located in the far-flung municipality of
Ifugao. This remote municipality can
be reached only by hiking 10 - 12
hours. After 3 years, her services was
needed further and thus, was transferred to Panopdopan District Hospital in another municipality of Ifugao
for an additional 3 years.
A native of the Cordillera region,
She is a staunch advocate of graft
and corruption eradication in the
government service, and take refuge
in her belief that there is God who is
always watching, guiding, and protecting us.
Dr. Allaga served as the representative of the IMS to the Provincial
Health Board, Provincial Blood Council, and the Provincial Disaster and
Risk Reduction Management Council
(PDRRMC). She is an active member
and adviser to the Basic Ecclesiastical
Community (BEC) of Banaue, Ifugao
and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Westville Academy at Lamut, Ifugao.
In July 2015, she was elected
Convenor/Chairman of the Ifugao
Reproductive
Health
Advocacy
Network (RHAN), working for the full
implementation of the Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive Health
Law (RPRH Law).
•••
Dr. Gaerlan is the presiding
officer of the Northwestern Luzon
Regional Council. She is the voice of
the following component Medical
Societies: Mt. Province medical society, Baguio-Benguet medical society,
La Union medical society, Pangasinan
medical society, Southern Ilocos Sur
medical society, Ilocos Sur medical
society, Abra medical society and the
Ilocos Norte medical society.
Dr. Gaerlan is a dedicated pediatrician, who embodies the Thomasian
spirit and values. She is a specialist in
Infectious Diseases. She holds a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from Mahidol University, Thailand. She is a fellow of the Philippine
Pediatric Society and has served as
President of the North Luzon Chapter from year 2002 to 2004.
Currently, she is the Assistant
Medical Director of Lorma Medical
Center, the Assistant Chairman of the
Department of Paediatrics in Ilocos
Training and Regional Medical Center, and a member of the Board of
Trustee of Saint Louis College, all in
San Fernando City, La Union.
She is the loving wife of a fellow
Thomasian, Dr. Jerome A. Gaerlan,
who is the current Vice President of
the Philippine College of Radiology.
She is a fulfilled mother of 3 great
kids: Jerome Andrio (19 years old),
Jerard Matthew (17 years old), and
Jeisela Merice (16 years old), all of
them taking up pre-medical courses
at the University of Sto. Tomas.
Volume XXV, No. 1
Dr. Balderas-Gaerlan, from page 12...
Dr. Gaerlan, a member of the
Alpha Delta Sorority of UST - Faculty
of Medicine and Surgery, is an accomplished, multi-awarded professional and socio-civic leader. She
was recognized by the UST Medical
Alumni Association in 2013 to be
worthy of the most coveted
“THOMAS AWARD” ; by the Auxiliary
to the PMA (APMA) in 2008 as the
Outstanding Physician In Community
Service (“TOPICS AWARD”); Most
Outstanding Pediatrician in Community Service 2011, a Dr. Fe Del Mundo
Award by the Philippine Pediatric
Society. She was also given recognition by the Philippine Medical Association in 2001 as one of the Most
Outstanding
Physician
(MOP
AWARD); twice awarded as Most
Outstanding Club President by the
Inner Wheel Club of the Philippines on the National Level in 1998 and in
2013. And finally, the Provincial Government of La Union gave recognition of her passionate delivery of
community services and awarded her
the “La Union Service Award” in
2011.
Dr. Gaerlan is also an active
member and leader of religious organizations such as Daughters of
Mary Immaculate and the Mother
Butler Mission Guild. She spearheaded the construction of the Adoration Chapel of the St. William Cathedral of San Fernando City and the
construction of the Holy Family
Chapel of ITRMC and other Barrio
Chapels of San Fernando City, La
Union.
She loves to paint in oil medium
during her leisure times. She collects
antiques and keeps an elephant collection of different materials as her
memorabilia during her travels with
her husband in the different parts of
the world. She is also engaged in
embroidery and enjoys cooking for
her family. A special way to relax and
Page 13
wind up her hectic day is attending to
the ornamental plants in her garden.
An entrepreneur for the past 4
years, she manages the pharmacy
started by her mother.
Dr. Gaerlan also recognises the
value of preserving our cultural heritage and started reviving an inherited
century old house, “Bahay na Bato,”
and converted it into a Bed and
Breakfast, “Residencia Concepcion”.
This will soon open on December 8,
2015.
Lastly, her ultimate passion as a
socio-civic servant leader is centered
in serving the SPED School of San
Fernando City and the Christian Praise
Fellowship Orphanage since 1997 and
on her advocacies in HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign & ARV Therapy.
•••
Dr. Camina is an orthopaedic surgeon currently practicing in Malolos,
Bulacan and married to Dr. Jovy
Camina, an anesthesiologist. He is a
father to 6 wonderful kids.
Dr. Camina, a native of Iloilo, is a
high academic achiever. He graduated with honors in his elementary
years, salutatorian graduate in high
school, accelerated with honors,
graduating as Cum Laude in BS Biology degree, and Benemeritus in Doctor of Medicine Degree at the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila.
He took his residency training
in Orthopaedics at the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center, became a
travelling fellow at the nagoya , Japan. And had fellowship training in
Joint Reconstructive Surgery at NUH,
Singapore. He is a Fellow of the Philippine Orthopaedic Association and
the Philippine College of Surgeons.
He had three Research Papers presented in Paper Reading and reviewed one in an Asian Congress of
Orthopaedics.
Dr. Camina is a dedicated sociocivic leader, served as President of the
Rotary Club of Metropolitan Malolos
in 2008-2009 and Assistant Governor
for Rotary District 3770 area 13 in
2011-2012, Malolos Jaycees in 19982000, and Sta. Isabel Tennis Club in
1998-2000.
Dr. Camiña served as President
of the Bulacan Medical Society in
2001-2002, Chairman of the Bulacan
Medical Mission Group Health Service
cooperative in 2002 - 2006, and as a
General Manager of the Bulacan
Medical Mission Group Cooperative
Hospital in 2008 - 2010. He served as
a member of the Board of Trustee in
the Philippine Orthopedic Association
in 2008 - 2010. Currently, he is the
Health Emergency Management Staff
Coordinator of the Bulacan Medical
Centre and holds the position of
Medical Officer II at the same institution.
Dr. Camina is an advocate of Lay
Fora Activities as an effective method
of disease prevention, better than
Medical Missions.
His philosophy in life is, “We can
get better in our chosen work, in leading others, and in improving ourselves,
by striving to be a better Filipino in the
Philippines. It’s better done, here.”
Dr. Camina is active in the church
serving as an extraordinary minister
of Holy Eucharist at the Diocese of
Malolos.
•••
Page 14
The Physician
Know your Governor…
By: Maria Corazon S. Maglaya, MD
He has always been busy sharing
his expertise at the MMS Medical
Indigency Clinic, giving lectures
about dermatology, treating patients
with skin problems, and doing minor
surgery during summers. At present,
he is the administrative officer of the
Manila Medical Society building at
M. dela Fuente, Sampaloc, Manila,
the permanent home of the MMS.
Dr. Lakandula A. Elayda, or Lucky
to his friends and colleagues, is no
stranger to the job as PMA governor
being a third termer governor of
Manila. He is an active member of
the Manila Medical Society (MMS),
the first and oldest medical society of
the Philippines.
Dr. Lucky is happily married to
Sally, a registered nurse and home
maker, they are blessed with three
children: Nitela Grace, who followed
the footsteps of her dad and became
a doctor with a diplomate in clinical
and cosmetic dermatology, Francis,
an executive of Accenture International, and Hazel May, a lawyer. All
the three children are married and
have given Dr Lucky and Sally a total
of nine grandchildren. He enjoys listening to classical music, playing
golf, and of course, doing APOstolate
duties with his grandchildren.
He is a practicing Family physician and dermatologist, a Fellow of
the Philippine Academy of Family
Physicians (PAFP) and the founding
president of the Philippine Academy
of Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology (PACCD). He is also a retired
OB-Gyn practitioner.
Dr. Lucky has been active in the
PMA in various capacity including
being the Secretary-General in 19951997. His final PMA advocacy, as
Chairman of the PMA Building Plan,
is to maximize the economic potentials of the PMA property.
exposed to the danger of sporadic
fighting between the government
forces and the NPA. Even now, as the
owner of a hospital in Jordan Plains,
Novaliches, she renders free medical
services and gives livelihood training
to residents in the depressed area
near her hospital. Dr. Cherry has
been among the selfless volunteers
for the PMA medical missions when
typhoons like Ondoy, Pedring, Kiel
and the habagat brought massive
flood not only in NCR but in nearby
areas.
Dr. Cherry enjoys dancing and
traveling. She believes that there is
always a silver lining on the horizon.
•••
•••
Dr. Jose C. Rabe, Boy to his family, relatives and friends in Bicol, Joe
to his friends in Manila and Tatay to
his sons and grandchildren, is an
active member of the Taguig Medical
Society
Dr. Rosario B. Cruz-Dalida, or
Cherry to her friends, is an active
member of the Quezon City Medical
Society. She is happily married to
Eng. Anacleto Dalida, a practicing
Civil Engineer and they are blessed
with one child, who decided to follow
the footsteps of her mother and became a physician.
Her love of the Filipino was
shown very early in her medical career. While most young doctors preferred to have their “rural” assignments in the urban setting, Dr.
Cherry volunteered to go to some
towns in Samal Island - towns where
there was no electricity nor potable
water, the means of transportation
was a carabao or a horse and was
Dr. Joe originally wanted to be a
surgeon and first applied for a surgery training program in the USA
and several years later in Rizal Medical Center. But things did not work as
he planned. He decided he would
just concentrate his energies to general practice and he was able to start
a 10-bed capacity hospital in Taguig.
His efforts to improve the hospital
paid off and he was able to expand
it to a 25-bed facility in 5 years.
Hard work and good business sense
enabled him to build a 50-bed
capacity hospital in Paranaque and
he named it South Superhighway
Medical Center.
He is happily married to Dr.
Erlinda Cruz-Rabe of Taguig and they
have been blessed with three sons
Volume XXV, No. 1
Dr. Jose C. Rabe, from page 14...
and seven grandchildren. Joser, their
second child followed the footsteps
of Dr. Joe and became a doctor.
Dr Joe doesn‟t believe so much
in joining organizations, but he is a
member of BCBP (a group of Christian Businessman and Professional
Organization) holding the breakfast
every Saturday and talking about
religious matters.
When asked what is his advocacy, this was his reply: “I just want
to be a good doctor, polishing my
ability everyday thru experience. I
promised to myself that I must serve,
help the hungry and the poor and to
build a legacy for myself which will be
a reference for future generations”.
•••
Dr. Vincent C. Santos, Vince or
Vincent to his family and friends, is
a fellow of the Philippine College of
Physicians, an Internal Medicine specialist and an a practicing Endocrinologist. He is an active member not
only of the Marikina Valley Medical
Society but of several specialty and
subspecialty societies such as Philippine Thyroid Association (he is a former president), Asia Oceania Thyroid
Association, International Council for
the Control Of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, Philippine Society Of Endocrine and Metabolism and the Marikina Chapter of the Philippine College of Physicians.
He is happily married to Dr. Eula
Martha E. Santos, whom he met during their residency training in Jose R.
Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
They are blessed with only one child,
Vincent, who decided to follow the
Page 15
footsteps of his parents and became
a doctor.
Dr. Vincent is one of MVMS
members who regularly helps in the
medical missions conducted by the
society as well as by the Rotary Club
of Marikina, the club where he has
served as president. He is also very
active in the Church. He serves as a
extraordinary minister of the Holy
Eucharistic at the Immaculate Concepcion and he is an Apostolic Council member of the Saint Francis of
Assisi Marriage Encounter Community.
Dr. Vincent enjoys singing and
dancing and is a pilar of the Tribung
Marikina, the cultural group of the
MVMS, not just because he is the
tallest member of the group but because he is one of the members willing to spend hours practicing whenever the group is called upon to perform as a representative of the
MVMS, often times offering their
place as a venue for the practice.
His advocacies include the out of
school youth alternative learning
system of the Rotary Club and the
prevention of type 2 diabetes, and
iodine deficiency goiter.
•••
Dr. Annette Magno-Macayaon,
Annette to her friends and colleagues, is an Obstetrics and Gynecology practitioner with a subspecialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ultrasound. She is a fellow of the
POGS and PSUOG and a member of
the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
She is an active member of the
Marinduque Medical Society.
Originally from Manila, Dr. Annette transferred to Tanauan then
eventually to Marinduque, the hometown of her husband, Dr. Ricardo
Macayaon, and where they are both
currently employed as Medical Specialist II at the Marinduque Provincial
Hospital. Dr. Annette and her husband were classmates in Pamantasan
ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of
Medicine (PLM-CM) and had their
residency training (abeit in different
fields) in Ospital ng Maynila Medical
Center. They have been blessed with
one child, a daughter, who is now in
her teen-age years.
Participating in its community
outreach projects of the La Consolacion College Mendiola Manila Alumni
Association and the PLM-CM Medical
Alliance Rendering Service for Fellowmen and conducting regular free
obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound, pap smear examinations during annual POGS Buntis Day are
among the ways by which Dra. Annette show her compassion for the
less fortunate Filipinos.
Being a POGS accredited trainor
of midwives in Marinduque in response of POGS to the millenium
development goal of decreasing maternal death enables her to push one
of her advocacies, which is improving
maternal health by education, promoting maternal health, reproductive
care and prevention of complications.
Because of her utmost respect to
the Philippine Medical Association,
she would like to promote its good
name and purpose to as many physicians of the country with the hope of
illiciting same loyalty to this honorable association, an advocacy whish
she plans to do by being a role
model through obedience and good
governance using strong faith to God
and sincere dedication to her role to
her family and the society.
•••
Page 16
The Physician
Know your Governor…
By: Erlinda G. Delos Reyes, MD
Dr. Ramon C. Echano, Jr, who is
called Mon by friends and colleagues,
is the governor for the Bicol Region. He
is an active member of the Camarines
Norte Medical Society and a practicing
Internist and is presently a Medical
Officer IV at the Bicol Sanitarium,
Cabusao, Camarines Sur.
Dr. Mon is married to Claribel F.
Echano, a registered nurse from
Alangilan, Batangas City and they have
been blessed with five (5) children:
Francine Isabelle, Chloe Alessandra,
Gwen Carmela, Aldrich Russel Josh and
Josmon Charles F. Echan.
His care for others was greatly
manifested during the typhoon
„Yolanda‟ and his service did not go
unnoticed. He was given certificate of
recognition by the DOH as one of the
Unsung Heroes “Typhoon Yolanda Responders” and by the PMA as Medical
Volunteer for Yolanda Victims.
His advocacies include Expanded
Primary Care for Healthier Philippines,
and Coalition Against Corruption. He
also believes that the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) should
exclude the health and social services.
•••
"Effective leadership is not
about making speeches or
being liked; leadership is
defined by results not
attributes." - Peter Drucker
Council, Aklan Blood Coordinating
Council, Kool Earth Inc. Soroptimist
Int'l., Catholic Women's League.
Awards: Most Outstanding Physician2007-2008
•••
Education: Elem Education: Polo
Elem School - Polo, Banga, Aklan High
School: Northwestern Visayan Colleges
- Kalibo, Aklan College: Pre-Medicine University of the East, Manila - 19651969, BS Biology - University of the
East, Manila - 1969-1970, Medicine
Proper - UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center 1970 - 1974 Post
Graduate Internship- 1974 - 1975 Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Examination Passed: Passed the Medical
Board Examination - 1975.Passed the
Medical specialty Qualifying Exam in
Pediatrics given by DOH - 1989. Passed
the Diplomate Examination in Family
Medicine given by PAFP - 1999.
Employment History: Resident- Galang
Maternity Hospital-'1976 -1977 Junior
Resident-> Medical Specialist II - Aklan
Provincial Hospital now DRSTMH 1977 - 1993 Private Practice in Family
Medicine - 1993 to present. Professional Trainings: In service Training in
Pediatrics - 6 mos , DOH – 1985 Hypertension Training - one week, PSH 2007. Professional Memberships: Member & Past Vice President, President &
Board of Director of PAFP, Aklan chapter, Life Member of Aklan Medical Society, Past President of Aklan Medical
Society - 2000 - 2002; 2008-2009, Past
Board of Director, PRO of Aklan Medical society, Certified Family Physician 1993, Fellow PAFP-2004, Fellow Life
PAFP-2009, Member - Phil Society of
Hypertension- 2007, Member- Foundation for Lay Health Education - 2010.
Radio Anchor - every Sunday: Health
Line - Radio Bombo-2001 to present,
PHO Radio Health Program - DYRU 2007 to present. Non-Government
Organization Memberships: Aklan TB
Professional background: Graduate
of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, Class
‟72 Trained at the Cebu Maternity Hospital and at the Cebu Doctors‟ Hospital
(Exchange residency consortium) for
OB-GYN. Diplomate of the Philippine
Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
(PBOG),November, 1981. Fellow of the
Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, May, 1982, Philippine College of Surgeons, December, 1982 and
Philippine Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy, April 6, 2008. Practice: Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic
Endoscopy. Member of the Active Staff
of the following institutions: Cebu Doctors‟ University Hospital, Chong Hua
Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital,
Visayas Community Medical Center
and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical
Center (Under the One-peso a year
status). Has held chairmanship in the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the following institutions: Cebu
Doctors‟ University Hospital – 20052008, Cebu Community Hospital (now
VCMC) - 1984 -1987 and North General Hospital, 2008-2010. Associate
Professor of the following: Associate
Professor of the following: Cebu Doctors
University College of Medicine and
current Chair of the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu Institute of
Medicine (on leave). Past president
of Cebu Medical Society – 1988-89,
Volume XXV, No. 1
Page 17
Dr. Florencia T. Miel, from page 16..
Philippine College of Surgeons, CebuEastern Visayas Chapter, 1998-99. PCS
Governor – 1999-2001; Regional Director, POGS, 2002. President of the Zonta
Club of Cebu II, 2006-2008; Area 3
Director of the Zonta International District 17 – 2010-2012 whose advocacy
is in the improvement of the status of
women, Advocacy against VAWC
(Violence Against Women and Children). Member of the Committee on
GBV (Gender-Based Violence) of the
Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society chaired by Dr. Lyra Ruth
Chua. Current Area 3 District 17 Zonta
International Co-chair for Advocacy
Member of the Current Board of the
Zonta Club of Cebu II. Member of the
Board of Directors, Cebu Doctors University and the Cebu Doctors; University Hospital. Member, Board of Directors, Cebu Woman‟s Club.
Know your Governor…
By: Sol Veronica E. Bagaipo, MD
Northern
Philippine
Head and
Philippine
ists Inc.
Aside from professional organizations, he is very much in touch with his
social/civic organizations being a 4th
degree member of the Knights of Columbus and being an involved in the
Brotherhood of Christian Businessman
and Professionals.
He is actively practicing his EENT
specialty at Clinica Legaspi, Pagadian
City and as Medical Specialist II at the
Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.
•••
Born in Merida, Leyte on April 24,
1950. Consistent honor student from
elementary to high school. Magna Cum
Laude in BS Biology. Doctor of Medicine - Southwestern University College
of Medicine. Residency Training – Bethany Hospital and Daniel Z. Romualdez
Hospital, Tacloban City. In Private Practice from 1979 up to present. President
PMWA Ormoc Chapter President , 1988
- 1990. Recipient of numerous awards,
so far the most number for Ormoc
Chapter. President Ormoc City Medical
Society 1990-1994. Most awarded
OCMS President. To date the first and
the only recipient of the PMA Leadership Award (Icasiano) for Region VIII.
MOP – 1995 & 1998; Hippocrates
Awardee (local) by the APMA – Ormoc
Chapter 1998; PMA Governor Region
VIII – 2008-2010; Officer of the
Philippine National Red Cross, Ormoc
continued on page 17….
Mindanao Chapter of the
Society of Otolaryngology
Neck Surgery as well as the
Society of Medical Special-
Dr. Ed has his roots back up North,
where his parents, Mr. Severino and Ms
Isabel Legaspi are from. His parents
come from Calasiao, Pangasinan but,
like many from the North, have found
their homes in the South. Dr. Ed was
born in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur
on July 19, 1958.
He studied in Pagadian City Pilot
School during his grade school and
had his high school studies in Holy
Child Academy, also in Pagadian. He
had his preparatory medicine in University of Santo Tomas and proceeded
into Medicine in the same institution.
He graduated from UST as a Doctor of
Medicine in 1983.
Dr. Ed proceeded to have his specialty training in Eye, Ear, Nose and
Throat at the Rizal Medical Center from
1986-1990. He became a Diplomate in
Ophthalmology in 1990. He is an active
Life member of our PMA, and an enthusiastic member of the Philippine
Academy of Ophthalmology, Zamboanga del Sur Medical Association, the
It is interesting to know that he
holds close into his heart the mantras “
Be honest and do what is right” and
“Think and do things that we can control, and let go of things we can not”. It
is a small wonder then that as a physician he believes that a physician must
give the best service to every patient
regardless of social status. He is lovingly taken cared of by his wife, Carmencita and has three children, a boy
and two girls.
With Dr. Edgar Legaspi as governor, the physicians of Western Mindanao Region have another passionate
leader to represent them in the PMA
Board of Governors.
•••
Dr. Ruben Go is not a newbie in
the PMA board of governors having
served as a governor several years
back. And he remained a very active
Page 18
The Physician
Dr. Ruben Go, from page 17...
member even if he no longer sat in the
board by contributing what he can in
the pursuit of righteousness.
Dr. Ruben hails from Jimalulud,
Negros Oriental. He had his college in
Siliman University and graduated as a
physician from Cebu Institute of Medicine. He further specialized in family
medicine, passing the PAFP specialty
board in 1992 and has a subspecialty in
industrial medicine. He is also a very
active member of the Philippine Hospital Association with Cagayan de Oro‟s
largest private tertiary hospital, the
Polymedic General Hospital and the
Polymedic Medical Plaza, under his
care. His practice ran a span of 35 years
and counting.
He is married to a physician, Dr.
Josephine Goking-Go . They have three
children who are also active physicians
in Cagayan de Oro - Dr. Judee Ann GoSee, Dr. Rubee Ann Go-Gotil and Dr.
Joseph Reuben Go. He is already a
grandfather to six grandchildren.
Aside from watching movies, Dr.
Ruben loves to travel and Italy was the
last that he visited.
Foremost in her list is to further
strengthen component societies by
ensuring unity and encouraging members to be properly accounted for and
that membership should be through
area of practice and not residency. Involvement of the component societies
in the health related programs of the
local governments comes second in
her list. She believes that by doing so,
the PMA and the nation itself will move
towards one common goal.
With the fast changing times, it is
also her hope that the PMA will be
abreast with all the changes by making
it more relevant to the practice of each
and every member and that by the
leadership of the PMA, an integrated
health professional service will be possible. This also includes the leadership
of the PMA in ushering changes and
providing safety nets in the eventual
ASEAN integration of the practice of
Medicine.
It is every dedicated PMA member‟s desire that these lofty goals be
realised soon.
•••
This year is the second and last
term of Dr. Malou. And she has high
hopes not only for Southeastern Mindanao but for the whole PMA as well.
He is married to Hadji Shania
Abbas, an educator.
He is now a Presiding Judge at the
9th MCTC, Wao-Amai Manalibang ,
Lanao del Sur and a Professor in Forensic Medicine and Criminal Law at the
Mindanao State University.
His civic duties are highlighted by
his active involvement in Radjah Indaraptra Lodge 387 of Free and Accepted
Masons and in Maranaw Law Advocates. It comes as no surprise then that
he has his zeal on “Effective and speedy
delivery of health services and speedy
administration of justice as the key to
attaining sustained peace and development”.
•••
•••
He is one doctor in Cagayan de
Oro many look up to, not only in his
practice, but also in his desire to guide
people into the right path.
He is an active member of his
component society, the Misamis Oriental Medical Society (MOMS). So for the
members of PMA in Northern Mindanao, you can sit well knowing that
your voices will be heard and represented in the present board.
Norte, an Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Lanao del Sur and a Medical
specialist 1 in the Cotabato City Regional Health Office 12.
This year, the PMA Board of Governors, is once again fortunate to have
Dr. Osop Abbas who is both a physician and a lawyer. Looking at his
achievements and experiences, it is
easy to tell that what we have now, as
both doctor and a lawyer, is the real
deal.
Dr. Abbas had his Degree in
Bachelors of Science in Far Eastern
University, and Doctor of Medicine
from Southwestern University MHAM
College of Medicine. He had his Master
in Public Administration at the Bukidnon State University and his Bachelor
of Laws at the Mindanao State University.
Practising both professions, he has
been a Mayor of Pantar, Lanao del
Allow me to be a bit nostalgic
here, because I had the chance to sit
with him as member of the board in
2010-2011. And he is one gentleman, a
kind you need to meet at least once in
your lifetime.
Dr. Bernie is a veteran, having sat
in the PMA Board of Governors for
several terms. In as far how the dynamics of the PMA Board is concerned, he
is a wealth of knowledge. I am sure he
is not only an active member of our
organization but also a very productive
leader in his own right. Here‟s why.
Dr. Bernie had his degree in Doctor of Medicine at Far Eastern University in 1961. He has been a City Health
Officer in Surigao City for twelve years,
has been a Regional Health Director for
Region (Cebu) for seven years and Director of Biological Production Service
for seven years as well.
Volume XXV, No. 1
Dr. Bernardo T. Mora Jr., from page 18...
Aside from being a physician, he
has been elected as Surigao City
Councilor for three terms, from 1998
to 2007. He now sits as a Board of
Director of the Surigao Metropolitan
Water District. He has his hands full
with civic duties as well being president for Surigao Nickel Jaycees and
Surigao City Rotary Club at different
times. He is a Family Planning advocate being the National President of
Family Planning Organization of the
Philippines for several terms.
Page 19
NEWS IN ACTION
The PMA Board of Governors on their first regular board meeting and the PMA
National Orientation and Leadership Seminar held at Sarrosa International Hotel and
Residential Suites, Cebu City.
On top of his professional
achievements, he is married to an
equally engaging person, Dr. Vicky
Espina Mora, an obstetrician gynaecologist and his classmate in FEU.
They are blessed with an enterprising
son, Pedro Valentino, who manages
the Animo Marketing Inc.
Dr. Maria Minerva P. Calimag, PMA President delivering her message during the
PMA National Orientation and Leadership
Seminar at Sarrosa International Hotel
and Residential Suites, Cebu City
Welcome back Dr. Bernie.
•••
Dr. Eliza D. Laurente, from page 17...
Chapter; Officer of the Ormoc City
Host Lion‟s Club. President – Ormoc
Involved in Paramedic Services, the
laboratory arm of Ormoc Maternity
and Children‟s Hospital from 1997 up
to present. Past President – Ormoc
Scholarship Builders, 2007-2011;
Board Member – Sanctus Vincenzus
Scholarship Foundation, 2008 up to
present. At present – PMA District
Governor, 2015-2016
•••
"A leader is one who
knows the way, goes
the way, and shows
the way"
- John Maxwell
PMA President Dr. Maria Minerva P. Calimag with PMA Secretary General Dr.
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles and former
PMA Governor for Quezon City Region Dr.
Ma. Realiza G. Henson with PRC Chairman Hon. Dr. Florentino C. Doble, Dr. Ma.
Victoria M. Abesamis (2nd from Left) Finalist for Most Outstanding Professional in
Medicine and Dr. Maria Rosario Z. Capeding (3rd from Left) winner of the 4th PRC
Eric Nubla Award 2015. Given during the
PRC 2015 Awards Night, June 18, 2015 at
the Manila Hotel
The PMA President Dr. Maria Minerva
Calimag and PMA Secretary General Dr.
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles with the
representatives of specialty societies and
the PHA President Dr. Ruben Flores
during their meeting with the DOH
Secretary Hon. Dr. Janette Loreto-Garin.
The PRC Chairman Hon. Florentino C.
Doble, MD with the PRC Board of Medicine posing with the PMA National Officers and the winners of the PRC 4th Eric
Nubla Award Dr. Maria Rosario Z.
Capeding
Page 20
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of
money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in
the thrill of creative effort.”
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Because every man is the artisan
of his own fortune, it is a fact that
majority of the great achievers possess
the correspondence of mind and
reality, i.e. when the mind has the
same form as reality, by their own
wisdom and effort the truth prevails. A
true worthy accomplishment are those
intended for a better purpose, where
action follows belief and when the
intention sincerely arises from the
heart. These are just few of the many
reasons why I believe in the Latin
phrase “Labor Omnia Vincit”, which
means “Hard Work Conquers All”. And
nothing can really be achieved without
hard work.
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of
money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in
the thrill of creative effort.”
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Let us all remember that
we grow in the esteem of
the future generations
and conquering darkness
by science is one of the
boldest thing to do in
search for an answer. Blessed is our
colleague woman achiever who finds
wisdom in devoting herself for excellence,
the second physician to date to receive the
most coveted Eric Nubla award bestowed
by the Philippine Regulations Commission
(PRC), my dear colleagues, let us get to
know the awardee herself, Dr. Maria
Rosario Zeta Capeding.
Our culture has created two almost
irreconcilable descriptions of a 'good
woman.' The first is the individual
achiever; the second, the self-sacrificing
domestic goddess.
― Martha Beck
The Physician
Dating back in June of 1995, after
successfully passing the written
D i p lom at e
b oa r d
e x am
in
Anesthesiology, I am lucky to have met
a respected physician named Rose, as
she is fondly called, in Alabang
Medical Clinic where we both work as
consultants. She is simple, humble, and
assuming the stance of a true
professional with integrity and
character. During those days, I already
knew that she has a knack and interest
in research work.
Rose is married to Leo J. Capeding,
D. Ed., University Guidance Counselor,
University of the Philippines Manila
and a doting mother of three wellmannered gentlemen namely, Theo
Prudencio Juhani (Medical lntem, UPPGH), Leo Angelo (AB in Digital Film
Making, De la Salle - College of St.
Benilde), and Joseph Mari (Legal
Management, Ateneo de Manila
University). Current affiliations are:
Department of Microbiology Research
lnstitute for Tropical Medicine (RITM),
FCC, Alabang, Muntinlupa City,
Philippines and Asian Hospital and
Medical Center.
She finished B.S. Pre-Med. Cum
Laude at Velez College, Cebu City,
Doctor of Medicine, Cebu lnstitute
of Medicine, Cebu City, Philippines,
and Residency training in Pediatrics at
Manila Doctors Hospital. Other
trainings; receptorship in Bacteriology
Helsinki University, Central Hospital,
Helsinki, Finland, Research Fellowship
in Clinical Microbiology National Public
Health lnstitute, Helsinki, Finland,
Fellowship in lnfectious Diseases, UPPGH, and Research lnstitute for
Tropical Medicine (RITM). As a full
pledged paediatrician, Rose is a Fellow,
Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS),
Diplomate, Philippine Pediatric Society,
and Fellow, Pediatric lnfectious Disease
Society of the Philippines (PIDSP).
At present, she is the Head,
Department of Microbiology Research
lnstitute for Tropical Medicine,
Medical Specialist Ill, Pediatric and
lnfectious Disease Consultant Medical
Department, Research lnstitute for
Tropical Medicine, Head, Section of
lnfectious Diseases, Department of
Pediatrics, Asian Hospital and Medical
Center, Consultant, Department of
Pediatrics Manila Doctors Hospital.
As a dedicated worker, she also
got herself involved in various
organizational activities: Course
Director, Third Country Training
Programme in Acute Respiratory
lnfections sponsored by the Japanese
lnternational Cooperation Agency
(JICA), Overall Chair, 10th Philippine
National lmmunization Conference,
RITM 7th Postgraduate Course, and
Overall Chair, Pediatric lnfectious
Disease Society of the Philippines
(PIDSP) 22nd Annual Convention.
Rose is not only a private
practitioner but also a member of
various local and international
organizations; Philippine Medical
Association, Philippine Pediatric
Society, Pediatric lnfectious Disease
Society of the Philippines, Philippine
Foundation for Vaccination, Philippine
Society for Microbiology and
lnfectious Diseases, National Research
Council
of
the
Ph ilippine s ,
lmmunization Partners in Asia Pacific,
Asian Society for Pediatric lnfectious
Disease, International Society for
Infectious Diseases, lnternational
Society for Tropical Pediatrics,
American Academy of Pediatrics, and
European Society of Pediatric
lnfectious Diseases. A truly devoted
paediatrician, Rose is also a member:
Technical Committees scientific
Organizations,
WHO
Regional
Verification Commission for Measles
Elimination in the Western Pacific
Region, ASEAN Member States
Dengue Vaccination Advocacy Steering
Committee (ADVASC), World Society
for Pediatric lnfectious Diseases
(WSPlD),
Denguev2V, lnvasive
BacterialVaccine Preventable Disease
(IB-VPD) Surveillance, DOHA/VHO
Program, Reviewer for Scientific
Journals/Health Researches, Journal of
lnfectious Diseases University of
Washington School of Medicine USA,
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume XXV, No. 1
Researches of Philippine Council for
Health Research and Development
(pCHRD), Pediatric lnfectious Disease
Society of the Philippines Journal,
Scientific Courses training Workshop/
Consultative
Meetings,
Pediatric
Pneumococcal Disease in the Asia
Pacific Region and lts Prevention by
Vaccination Seoul Korea, Preventing
Pneumococcal Disease in Children,
Asia Pacifc Advisory Board Bangkok,
Thailand, Clinical lnvestigators Meeting
on Safety Lyon, France and so many
more.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can
ever achieve greatly.”
― Robert F. Kennedy
A woman of action, this charming
paediatrician also garnered the
following awards: Philippine Medical
Association (PMA), 23rd Dr. Jose P.
Rizal Memorial Award for Research
(2014), Top Women in Biotech 2014,
Awarded by Fierce Biotech, Paper of
the
Year
2014,
awarded
by
lnternational Society for Vaccines, and
Recognition for her Outstanding
Leadership in Cultural, Civic, Social
and Religious Activities of the
community,
awarded
by
the
Sangguniang Bayan of Basey, Samar
thru a Municipal Council Resolution
(Resolution no. 15, February 7, 2011.
“If you can't do great things, do small
things in a great way.”
― Napoleon Hill
Having a pull toward research and
training, she practically spent almost
her entire career for it. She did a lot of
contributions to the advancement of
the medical profession by making
herself devotedly involved in research
works published in local and
international journals. To mention a
few of her 184 latest original articles
and reviews with which some are
currently ongoing: A prospective,
multicentre, comparative, open label,
randomized phase Ill study to
assess immunogenicity and safety
of LBVP0101fiully liquid pentavalent
vaccine, Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole cell
Pertussis-Hepatitis
B-Haemophilus
Influenzae type B (tetanus toxoid
conjugate)) compared with EuforvacHibTM {reconstituted pentavalent
Page 21
vaccine, which is reconstituted from
Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole cell Pertussis
-Hepatitis B and Haemophilus
Influenzae type B (tetanus toxoid
conjugate) just before intramuscular
injection) in healthy infants at six, ten
and fourteen weeks of age, August
2013 - February 2014, A phase lll, Open
-label, randomized parallel-group study
on the immunogenicity and safety of
Quinvaxem@ (DTwP-HepB-Hib) in
Uniject@ with Quinvaxem@ monodose
vials in healthy infants at 6, 10 and 14
weeks of age, September 2013 - March
2014, 43 Safety and lmmunogenicity of
Two Doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine
(ShancolrM) in Subjects Aged 1 Year
and Older in the Phillippines April 2014
- October 2014, Efficacy and Safety of a
Novel Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine in
Health Children Aged 2 to 14 Years in
Asia June 201 '1 – present, A
Prospective Study of Dengue Virus
lnfection During lnfancy to Define
Correlates of Protective lmmunity
National lnstitutes for Health. August
2012- present, A
Prospective,
Multicenter, Comparative, Open-label,
Randomized Phase lll Study to Assess
lmmunogenicity and Safety of
LBVP0101-01 {fully liquid pentavalent
vaccine, Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole cell
Pertussis-Hepatitis B-Haemophilus
influenza type B (Tetanus toxiod
conjugate)) compared with EuforavacHibTM {reconstituted pentavalent
vaccine,, Diphtheria-Tetanus whole Cell
Pertussis_Hepatitis B and Haemophilus
influenza type b (tetanus toxoid
conjugate)) in Healthy lnfants
(LGVPCL003) October 2014 – Present, A
Phase lll, Stratified, Randomized,
Observer Blind, Controlled, Multicenter
Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety,
and lmmunogenicity and Efficacy of an
Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Subunit
Influenza Virus Vaccine Compared to
Non-Adjuvanted Comparator lnfluenza
Vaccine in Children > 6 to < 72 Months
of Age, February 2015 – Present.
“Only those who attempt the absurd
can achieve the impossible.”
― Albert Einstein
Dr. Maria Rosario Z. Capeding was
the recipient of the most coveted Eric
Nubla Award by the Philippine
Regulations Commission for the
following reasons: (1) She amply
dem onst rated
p rofes si on al
competence of the highest degree
and conducted herself with integrity
in the exercise of her profession as
an
accomplished
Pediatrician,
infectious disease specialist and a
medical researcher, highly regarded
by his peers and recognized in the
medical community she serves with
an
unblemished
professional
reputation. For the past thirty (30)
years, Dr. Maria Rosario Zeta Capeding
has engaged in significant researches
that impacted positively in safeguarding
public health. She holds various posts at
the Research lnstitute for Tropical
Medicine (RITM) as Head of the
De partm ent
of
M ic robiology,
Consultant in Pediatric and lnfectious
Disease of the Medical Department and
Head of the Dengue Study Group. She
also serves in private medical
institutions such as Asian Hospital and
Medical Center (Head of Section of
lnfectious Diseases of the Department
of Pediatric and Manila Doctors
Hospital (Consultant of the Department
of Pediatric). Dr. Capeding earned a
degree in Medicine, Residency in
Pediatrics, and a Fellowship in lnfectious
Diseases from the leading medical
institutions in the Philippines. She also
received her Research Fellowship in
Clinical Microbiology and Preceptorship
in Bacteriology from Helsinki, Finland
and for the aforementioned trainings
and accomplishments, (2) She
participated
meaningfully
in
professional activities through the
professional organizations, (3) She
contributed significantly to the
advancement of the profession, and
lastly
(4)
She
contributed
significantly
to
the
effective
discharge of the profession’s social
responsibility through meaningful
contribution/participation in socio –
related activities.
In behalf of the executive
officers and board of governors of
the Philippine Medical Association,
allow me to extend my sincere
congratulations to you Dr. Maria
Rosario Z. Capeding!
“Never throughout history has a man who
lived a life of ease left a name worth
remembering.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
•••
Page 22
The Physician
The Philippine Code of Business Ethics
in the Biopharmaceutical, Herbal and
Medical Device Sector
By Arthur Toloza Catli, MD
In the latter part of 2011, during
the APEC Summit in Honolulu, Pres.
Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed two
documents that endorse guidelines,
which aim to promote the creation of
voluntary codes of business ethics in
the Biopharmaceutical and Medical
devices sector. They are later to be
known as the Mexico City (MCP) and
Kuala Lumpur Principles (KLP) respectively. It is worth saying that at
the forefront in the drafting of the
MCP, representing the Philippines is
Dr. Francisco Tranquilino from the
Philippine College of Physicians.
In 2013 and 2014, the Philippine
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
issued memorandum circulars that
formally adopts the two guidelines
and shall ultimately lead to the draft of
an Administrative Order from the
DOH.
The medical community initially
received this development with concern, amidst the confusion of misinformation, the lack of clarity on issues
pertinent to the intent of the guidelines as the promulgation of the AO
will have an impact to existing dynamics of interaction and engagement between the pharmaceutical industry
and the doctors. There were even allegations that CME activities that are
customarily supported by drug companies shall be adversely affected.
Consistent with the pre-requisites
of establishing a formidable regional
trade bloc through the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA),
breaking down trade barriers while
ensuring the protection of Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is of paramount priority. In order to achieve
this, it has been established that an
essential strategy would be to ensure
a corrupt – free and ethics based
business ecosystem. APEC member
economies realized that corruption is
an obstacle to economic growth. The
Pharmaceutical Industry is seen as a
sector in need of this intervention.
A case in point therefore declares
that these guidelines target to regulate
the Pharmaceutical, Herbal and Medical Device Industry, NOT the Medical
Profession. These guidelines latch on
the premise that “Appropriate and
Ethical interactions between Industry
and the Healthcare Providers (HCPs)
help ensure that medical decisions are
made in the best interest of patients.”
The six basic principles being espoused in these guidelines include:
Healthcare and Patient focus, integrity, independence of HCPs from undue influence, legitimate intent to do
what is right and avoidance of conflicts of interest, transparency and
accountability. All of these are geared
towards guiding the pharmaceutical
industry in appropriate and ethical
practices that involve: Interactions
with HCPs; Promotional Information
and Activities; drug safety; Sponsorships of HCPs to Symposia and Congresses; Validity of Informational
Presentations by Company Representatives; Entertainment; Educational
Items and Gifts; Support for Continuing Medical Education, Drug Samples;
Consultant and Speaker Arrangements; Compliance Procedures and
Responsibilities of the pharmaceutical
industry; Appropriate Conduct and
Training of Company Representatives;
Public Sector (Government) Relations
and Procurement; Ethical Clinical Trials; Industry Donations for Charitable
Purposes; Industry’s involvement with
Patient Organizations.
Ultimately, these principles aim to
provide the Filipino patient access to
safe, effective and quality medicines
and avoid unwanted doctor prescriptions in exchange for entitlements
(monetary and the like); gifts; entertainment and privileges as well as
junket trips abroad disguised as legitimate CME activities.
We are all winners here because
right away, we weed out undesirable
industry players engaged in corruption and bribery; we indirectly curtail
the abusive behavior and practices of
some of our colleagues who only think
of self entitlement and self profit at
the expense not only of the patients
but also the credibility of the Medical
Profession as well. They totally undermine the Hippocratic oath they swore
to uphold. In this context, everybody is
a casualty. We lose our character as an
upright human being. No wonder our
profession continues to be unjustly
accused of easy corruptibility and ridiculed of tax evasion. Do we not adhere
to or much less know the PMA Code of
Ethics?
During the 108th PMA Annual
Convention held at the grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, this administration, thankfully, cognizant of
the importance of the concept of integrity of the Filipino Physician both as
Healer and professional, initiated the
PMA member commitment to the
”Ethos of the Philippine Medical Association”. It stipulates adherence to the
tenets of the Physician Oath of Hippocrates; commitment to the primary
mission of the physician as healer;
nurture, strengthen and uphold the
PMA Code of ethics; and recognize
that each of us must ensure the best
interest of the patient.
In this age wherein all fall under
the microscopic scrutiny of the public
through social media, we should close
ranks and undertake measures that
raise ourselves to a higher form of self
worth and affirmation, not just for
show and lip service but simply because it is the right thing to do. We are
used to making hard decisions, let us
decide to “find ourselves by losing ourselves in the service of others”. Let us
band together as ONE PMA.
•••
Volume XXV, No. 1
Page 23
Of Camels and Desserts : MERS-CoV
By Mechael Angelo G. Marasigan , MD
Picture a middle aged Arabian,
taking a leisurely ride on a dromedary
camel's back one arid late afternoon in
Sahara. In a matter of days, this man
would consult a downtown Medical
Center not because of symptoms referrable to his long standing emphysema
but a flu like illness, this time with more
pronounced cough and a difficulty of
breathing. His pulmonologist would
definitely start anti microbials for Pneumonia but would not suspect a novel
disease enfolding, and might miss the
plausible diagnosis if there was a
strong index of suspicion.
On September 2012, the Arabian
peninsula was in the news again not
because of a terror attack, but because
of a novel illness that was unprecedented in the annals of medical literature. Aside from Saudi Arabia, cases
were also confirmed in Jordan, United
Kingdom and Germany, clearly another
disease that could have been spread by
travel. In 2013, 7 more countries were
added to those with reported cases
(Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab
Emirates, France, Italy and Tunisia).
From 2014 to date, 26 more countries
have reported MERS-CoV cases, including recent ones in Asia (China, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines) and the US.
The Republic of South Korea have been
shaken by this modern virus, killing 27
victims out of 180 cases, so far the biggest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia.
Like all new infections, the mystery
remains as how a zoonotic infection
has become an illness with a probable
human to human transmission. Though
bats are known reservoir of the virus,
dromedary camels, goats, sheeps, and
fur bearing mammals are identified as
possible source of infections through
air, by consuming animal milk or meat.
Among those health workers who have
taken care of the confirmed cases, it is
prudent to say that a close contact
would probably transmit the disease
especially under nosocomial settings
rather than in the community.
The Philippines' first case was in
February this year, a nurse who worked
in Saudi Arabia. She was quarantined
for 14 days, and had recovered from
the illness. Secretary of Health Dr
Janette Loreto Garin have declared
Philippines MERS-CoV-free only until
July when a second case of a 36 year
old foreigner from Dubai tested positive for the virus. He was subjected to
standard observation and testing, and
was recently discharged from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
(RITM) in Muntinlupa.
So what should symptoms need to
be asked to suspect a probable MERSCoV infection? MERS-CoV is a shortened name for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus, the
microbe that have been isolated from
those afflicted. The corona virus is not
a new virus as it is also responsible for
the common colds, but have been the
plague of the 21st Century as it has
been identified for the controversial
SARS epidemic of recent times. In the
Philippines, the PIDSR (Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response), has released its new Case Investigation Form (CIF) to track possible
cases. The CIF enlists patient profile,
residence in the Philippines, travel history, overseas employment address,
countries visited/traveled/worked during the last 14 days and exposure history. In the clinical part, symptoms of
fever (100*F or more), cough, difficulty
of breathing, sore throat, runny nose,
pneumonia, chills, chest pain, body
aches, malaise, diarrhea, nausea/
vomiting are asked and elicited.
Final classification would fall under
6 categories : PUI or patient under
investigation, Suspected Influenza-like
investigation, Suspected Influenza-like
Illness, Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), Suspected MERS-CoV Case,
Probable MERS-CoV Case and Confirmed MERS-CoV Case. A "PUI" is a
person with sudden onset of fever and
cough or sore throat or diarrhea in the
absence of other diagnoses, AND with
history of travel from Arabian Peninsula
or neighboring countries within 14
days OR a person who visited any
health care facility with a known MERSCoV OR any health care worker with
signs and symptoms of severe acute
respiratory infection (SARI). A "Suspect
Case" is a symptomatic person with
history of travel and suspicion of
pulmonary
parenchymal
disease
(pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome based on clinical or
radiological evidence of consolidation)
AND not already explained by any
other infection or etiology, including all
clinically indicated tests for community
acquired pneumonia. A "Probable
Case" is a person fitting the definition
of a "Suspect Case" with clinical, radiological or histopathological evidence
of pulmonary parenchymal disease
(pneumonia or ARDS) but no possibility
of laboratory confirmation either because the patient or samples are not
available or there is no testing available
for other respiratory infections, AND
close contact with a laboratory confirmed case, and not already explained
by any other infection or etiology, including all clinically indicated tests for
community
acquired
pneumonia
(according to local management
guidelines). A "Confirmed Case" is a
person with laboratory confirmation of
infection with MERS-CoV.
Generally the symptoms are flulike just as SARS was, but with a predilection for renal failure, a common
sequelae of those dying from this illness. The profile of those developing
serious illness were the elderly, suffering from a co-morbid disease like
diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart
disease, those on organ transplantation
and have cancer hence on immunosuppressive treatments. Of the 1374 confirmed cases worldwide, 490 have died
accounting for a 36% case fatality rate.
In simple terms, 4 out of 10 confirmed
Page 24
The Physician
MERS-Cov, from page 23…
will succumb MERS-CoV cases will succumb to the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and World Health Organization
(WHO) has collaboratively expressed
no specific treatment for MERS-CoV
but only supportive medical care to
relieve symptoms, emphasizing prevention to limit complications and
sequelae. The travel advisory is to shy
away from countries with confirmed
cases especially if you have a comorbid condition, as it also predisposes to traveller's diarrhea and flu.
Frequent hand washing, cough etiquette and proper nutrition can never
be underemphasized in a highly mobile
generation.
As a nation ever cautious of natural and man-made calamities in its
midst, the MERS-CoV scare has been
added to the long list of worries that
the average Filipino has to address.
This is understandable as majority of
families hoping to traverse the poverty
line have a family member who has
worked, is currently working and
probably applying to work in foreign
shores, specially in regions closer to
the archipelago such as the Arabian
peninsula. The anxiety of having the
disease is tantamount to loss of life
and limb, and the hope for a better
future for our families.
The MERS-CoV is a virus that has
mutated to exhibit new spectrum of
diseases such as SARS and MERS-CoV,
and like the uncanny X-Men, we should
always be vigilant to these diseases. As
treatment is still supportive, and a vaccine is yet to be developed, the only
chance for cure is being prepared with
knowledge of this new disease, and
ever emphasizing the age-old wonders
of good nutrition, patient education
and early diagnosis and treatment.
These will remain as pillars of health for
our patients, and will continue to portray doctors as heroes of Generation X.
•••
The Commission on the Continuing Medical Education (CME) which is
currently chaired by Dr. Rebecca Deduyo and Co-Chaired by Dr. Minerva
Calimag together with its members,
namely, Josefina Chikiamco Dizon, MD,
Alberto De Leon, MD, Janetth B.
Serrano, MD, and Gil Vicente, MD fully
recognize the physician's obligation to
update his knowledge and practice to
better provide medical services attuned
to the needs of the community and the
changing times.
Under the tutelage of its Honorary
Chair, Ramon F. Abarquez Jr., MD and
the Governor-in-charge, Dr. Paul Ruel
Camiña, the Commission on CME has
adopted the "ONE PMA, ONE HEALTH,
ONE LIFE" theme and further derived a
sub-theme "CARING, SHARING AND
MENDING" to capture the essence of
providing full medical service vis-à-vis
professional development of medical
practitioners.
In the pipeline for next year's scientific sessions are the following very
interesting and relevant topics:
CARING (PREVENTIVE)
1. G.O.O.D. (Goiter, Osteoporosis,
Obesity, Diet) HABITS
2.
FOTI vs TOFI (Fat Outside, Thin
Inside vs Thin Outside, Fat Inside)
3.
Lose muscles, Gain Fats (Age
related Sarcopenia)
4.
SELFIE saves lives (importance of
self BP and blood glucose monitoring)
5.
A Stick in Time saves mine (timely
vaccination saves lives)
6.
Smoking Gun, Smoking Gone: The
hazards of First, Second and Third
Hand Smoke)
MENDING (TREATMENT)
1. MAXI vs MINI (Open/Traditional
surgical procedures vs Minimally
Invasive surgery)
2.
Antibiotic Resistance
3.
Hot flashes, hormone replacement
and menopause issues
4.
Forever Young (Medical vs Surgical)
5.
To cut or not to cut (Foot Ulcers)
SHARING
1. Medical Professionalism
2.
Rich Doc, Poor Doc (Financial
literary for Medical practitioners)
3.
Health vs Wellness (7 Dimensions
of Wellness: Emotional, Environmental, Intellectual, Occupational,
Physical, Spiritual and Social)
3.1 The Doctors Wear Prada:
(Practical Dressing-Looking Good
doesn't have to be expensive)
These learning portfolios are very
well-aligned with PMA's vision to foster
a culture of lifelong learning. Take the
challenge of keeping abreast with the
new development in the medical field
and earn a CME credit today.
•••
Volume XXV, No. 1
Page 25
PMA COMMISSIONS
AND COMMITTEES
COMMISSION ON LEGISLATION
Filomena S. San Juan, MD
COMMITTEE ON AWARDS
Jose Asa Sabili, MD
COMMISSION ON ETHICS
Santiago A. Del Rosario, MD
COMMITTEE SPECIAL PROJECTS
Nenita C. Lee Tan, MD
COMMISSION ON CONTINUING
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Rebecca W. Deduyo, MD
COMMITTEE ON AFFILIATE SOCIETIES
Ma. Encarnita B. Limpin, MD
COMMISSION ON MUTUAL AID
Albert C. Guevarra, MD
COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
AND DISASTER
Hector M. Santos Jr., MD
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONAL
SPECIALIZATION
Maria Minerva P. Calimag, MD
COMMISSION ON AUDIT
Teresita Ortin-Oliver, MD
COMMITTEE ON FOOD, DRUG
AND COSMETICS
Sonia E. Bongala, MD
COMMITTEE ON HOSPITALS AND
LABORATORIES
Tomas P. Maramba Jr., MD
COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH,
EDUCATION & CULTURE
Jose Florencio F. Lapeña Jr., MD
COMMITTEE ON BY-LAWS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Bayani B. Tecson, MD
ADHOC COMMITTEE ON CMAAO
Jose Asa Sabili, MD
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles, MD
COMMITTEE ON FOUNDATION DAY
Arnel M. Asino, MD
COMMITTEE ON MEDICINE WEEK
Carlito P. Pajarillo MD
COMMITTEE ON ANNUAL
CONVENTION
Ma. Realiza G. Henson, MD
COMMITTEE ON EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Jose Asa Sabili, MD
COMMITTEE ON MEDIA AFFAIRS
Ms. Hilda Ong
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND
PLANNING
Albert C. Guevarra, MD
COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL PLANT
AND DEVELOPMENT
Lakandula A. Elayda, MD
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Harry G. Soller, MD
ADHOC COMMITTEE ON ADVOCACY
AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Anthony C. Leachon, MD
COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles, MD
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AND ECOLOGY
Edgardo Ulysses N. Dorotheo, MD
COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL
MISSIONS
Ferdinand E. Cercenia, MD
COMMITTEE ON INDIGENCY
CLINIC
Domingo C. Pascual Jr., MD
COMMITTEE ON SPORTS
Alfred Q. Lasala II, MD
COMMITTEE ON OPINION BUREAU
Ma. Encarnita B. Limpin, MD
COMMITTEE ON PHIC and HMO
Maria Minerva P. Calimag, MD
COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AND
COMPUTERIZATION
Alvin Valeriano B. Marcelo, MD
COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION
Cynthia Cuayo-Juico, MD
COMMITTEE ON PROTOCOL
Marianne L. Ordoñez-Dobles, MD
COMMITTEE ON BIDS AND
AWARDS
Salvador G. Silverio, MD
COMMITTEE ON DOCTOR’S INN
Francisco E. San Diego Jr., MD
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
Jose Asa Sabili, MD
COMMITTEE ON AUDITORIUM AND
DOCTOR’S LOUNGE
Sylvanno T. Agustin, MD
COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY AND
ARCHIVES
Santiago A. Del Rosario, MD
Page 26
The Physician
PMA 8 SPECIALTY DIVISION PRESIDENTS
Philippine Academy of
Family Physicians
Alex J.Bienvenido D. Alip, Jr., MD
Philippine College of
Physicians
Mariano B. Lopez, MD
Philippine College of
Radiology
Johanna Patricia A. Cañal, MD
Philippine College of
Surgeons
Arturo E. Mendoza Jr., MD
Philippine Obstetrical and
Gynecological Society
Ditas Cristina D. Decena, MD
Philippine Pediatric Society
Milagros Salvani-Bautista, MD
Philippine Society of
Anesthesiologists
Ma. Concepcion L. Cruz, MD
Philippine Society of
Pathologists
Januario Antonio D. Veloso Jr., MD
By:
ARNEL M. ASINO, MD
SPECIALTY SOCIETIES
PHILIPPINE ACADEMY OF
FAMILY PHYSICIANS
Hospice and Pallative Medicine
Philippine College of Emergency Medicine
Philippine College of Occupational
Medicine
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF
PHYSICIANS
Diabetes Philippines
Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation
Medicine
Philippine College of Chest Physicians
Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine
Philippine Dermatological Society
Philippine Heart Association
Philippine Neurological Association
Philippine Psychiatric Association
Philippine Rheumatology Association
Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology, Inc.
Philippine Society of Endocrinology
Diabetes and Metabolism
Philippine Society of Gastroenterology
Philippine Society of General Internal
Medicine
Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine
Philippine Society for Hematology and
Blood Transfusion
Philippine Society of Medical Oncology
Philippine Society of Microbiology and
Infectious Disease
Philippine Society of Nephrology
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF
RADIOLOGY
Computed Tomography Magnetic
Resonance Imaging Society of the
Philippines
Philippine Radiation Oncology Society
Philippine Society of Vascular and
Interventional Radiology
Ultrasound Society of the Philippines
Volume XXV, No. 1
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF
SURGEONS
Academy of Filipino Neurosurgeons
Association of Women Surgeons of the
Philippines
Philippine Academy for Head and Neck
Surgery, Inc.
Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology
Philippine Association of Plastic
Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons
Philippine Association of Thoracic &
Cardiovascular Surgeons, Inc.
Page 27
Philippine Urological Association
Surgical Oncology Society of the Philippines
PHILIPPINE OBSTETRICAL AND
GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Perinatal Association of the Philippines
Philippine Society for Cervical Pathology &
Coloscopy
Philippine Society for Gynecologic
Endoscopy Foundation Inc.
Philippine Society for Study of Throphoplastic
Disease
Philippine Society for Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics
Philippine Society of Adolescent Medicine
Specialist
Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine
Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology
Philippine Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Philippine Society of Pediatric Metabolism
and Endocrinology
Philippine Society of Pediatric Hematology
Philippine Society of Pediatric Oncology
Philippine Society of Climacteric Medicine
Philippine Society of Pediatric Surgeons
Philippine Association of Training Officers
in Surgery
Philippine Society of Maternal and Fetal
Medicine
Section of Allergy & Immunology
Philippine Hip and Knee Society
Section of Community Pediatrics
Philippine Orthopaedic Association, Inc.
Philippine Society of Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility, Inc.
Philippine Society of Colon & Rectal
Surgeons
Philippine Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics
& Gynecology
Society of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Philippine Society of General Surgeons, Inc.
Society of Gynecologic Oncology of the
Philippines
Philippine Society of Laparoscopic &
Endoscopic Surgeons
Philippine Society of Otolaryngology, Head
and Neck Surgery, Inc.
Philippine Society of Pediatric Surgeons
Philippine Society of Ultrasound in
Surgeons
Philippine Society for the Surgery of Trauma
Philippine Society for Transplant Surgeons
Philippine Society for Vascular Surgery
Philippine Spine Society
- AFFILIATE SOCIETIES Aerospace Medical Association of the
Philippines
Community Pediatrics Society of the
Philippines
Department of Education & Culture
Physicians Association
Fetus as Patient Institute of the Philippines
Maternal and Child Health Association of
the Philippines
Molecular Oncology Society of the
Philippines
Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines
Pan Pacific Aesthetic Institute (PPAI)
Foundation Inc.
Pain Society of the Philippines
Philippine Academy of Cutaneous Surgery
Philippine Academy of Lactation
Consultants, Inc.
Philippine Academy of Aesthetic and Age
Management Medicine Inc.
Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery
Philippine Academy of Clinical and
Cosmetic Dermatology, Inc.
PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF
PATHOLOGISTS
Section of Ambulatory Pediatrics
Section of Genetics
PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF
ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Philippine Society of Cardiothoracic
Anesthesiologists, Inc.
PHILIPPINE PEDIATRIC SOCIETY
Philippine Society of Pediatric
Anesthesiologists
Child Neurology Society of the Philippines, Inc.
Society for Neuroanesthesiologist of the
Philippines
Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the
Philippines, Inc.
Pediatric Nephrology Society of the Philippines
Philippine Academy of Pediatric
Pulmonologists, Inc.
Philippine Academy of Dermatologic
Surgery Foundation, Inc.
Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists,
Inc.
Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric
Association, Inc.
Philippine Association of Academic
Biochemists
Philippine Association for the Study of
Overweight and Obesity
Philippine Association of Medical Writers
Philippine Association of Military
Surgeons, Inc.
Philippine Association of Primary Skin
Health Physicians Inc.
Philippine College of Addiction Medicine
Philippine College of Pharmaceutical
Medicine
Philippine Federation of Private Medical
Practitioners
Philippine Leprosy Society
Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society
Philippine Medical Artists Association
Philippine Society for Burn Injuries
Society of Obstetric Anesthesia of the
Philippines
•••
Philippine Society For Cosmetic Surgery
Philippine Society for the Study of the Aging
Male Foundation Inc.
Philippine Society of Anatomists
Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine
Philippine Society of Experimental and
Clinical Pharmacology
Philippine Society of Hypertension
Philippine Society of Insurance Medicine
Philippine Society of Medical Specialists
(in Government Service)
Philippine Society of Neurological Surgeons
Philippine Society of Oncologists
Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine
Philippine Society of Ultrasound and
Clinical Medicine, Inc.
Philippine Society of Venereologists, Inc.
Philippine Thyroid Association
Sports Medicine Association of the
Philippines
•••
DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT TO THE ETHOS OF THE
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Backgro und
Ethos is the spirit and moral nature of a community or individual. It is derived from the Greek word
for character, which is the trustworthiness or credibility of a person. Ethos forms the guiding beliefs of the
person or community, which in turn, builds the codes or ethics that guides the community or organization in its
behaviour. Thus, ethos resides within the person, while ethics are displayed in words, symbols, and actions.
If the leaders' ethos is of good character, it builds esprit de corps (moral), if it is bad, morale suffers. It has
this powerful effect because it establishes the way members interact with each other in an organization and
the degree of responsibility they have to achieving the organization's goals and objectives.
The practice of Medicine has had recent major changes that impact on the Standards of Conduct,
Performance and Ethics of the Medical Profession, i.e., shifts in physician-patient interaction, shifts in
physician-industry interaction, social media in healthcare, etc.
In the spirit of interprofessional collaborative practice, the practice of the medical profession, invariably
requires a safe and ethical physician engaged in a systematic environment made conducive to such safe
practice together with other healthcare professionals.
I understand that my role as a Filipino physician at the Philippine Medical Association is a significant
responsibility and will make it a priority. I look forward to working with other Filipino physicians and, like the
others:
I commit to uphold the tenets of the Oath of Hippocrates
* Will offer my expertise to help maintain the highest level of practice of the medical profession;
* Will look after the welfare of my fellow physicians;
I commit to always place the Mission first
* Support the Mission, Vision, Values and Goals of the Philippine Medical Association;
* Will ensure a commitment to the best interest of the organization as a whole.
I commit to strengthen and uphold the PMA Code of Ethics
* Will continually uplift the level of ethical culture of the Association so that it is able to achieve what really
matters;
* Will actively report unethical behaviour and regularly survey leaders and staff as to how well the Code
is being met.
I commit to ensure the best interest of my patients
* Will work with the rest of the team to communicate the organization’s role to ensure the safety of our
patients.
As Filipino Physicians, we commit to strengthen our Philippine Medical Association Code of Ethics that will work
for positive change, towards serving the needs of its constituents, the original intentions so captured in the
PMA’s mission and values of integrity, dignity, respect for peers, dedication to every physician’s constituent
rights and patient’s safety.
I have read and fully agree to this Declaration of Commitment and look forward to assisting the Philippine
Medical Association in this role.
Signed this 20th day of May, 2015 at Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom, Pasay City, Manila, PHILIPPINES